World crude steel production up in January

World crude steel production for the 62 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 125 million tonnes (Mt) in January 2013, a slight increase of 0.8% compared to January 2012.

China’s crude steel production for January 2013 was 59.3 Mt, up by 4.6% compared to January 2012. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.9 Mt of crude steel in January 2013, an increase of 2.7% compared to the same month last year. South Korea’s crude steel production was 5.8 Mt in January 2013, -0.4% lower than January 2012.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.6 Mt of crude steel in January 2013, an increase of 5.4% on January 2012. Italy’s crude steel production was 1.8 Mt, down by -19.7% compared to January 2012. France’s crude steel production was 1.4 Mt, down by -1.3% on January 2012. Spain produced 1.1 Mt of crude steel, -2.5% lower than January 2012.

Turkey’s crude steel production for January 2013 was 2.9 Mt, a decrease of -8.8% compared to January 2012.

In January 2013, Russia produced 5.7 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of -5.7% compared to the same month last year. Ukraine’s crude steel production for January 2013 was 2.7 Mt, -4.4% less than January 2012.

The US produced 7.3 Mt of crude steel in January 2013, down by -5.8% on January 2012.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 62 countries in January 2013 declined to 71.2% from 73.2% in December 2012. Compared to January 2012, it is 5.5 percentage points lower.